Evergreene Golf, Belchertown, MA

Located on Rt. 9 in Belchertown, Evergreene Golf offers regular and mini golf. The grooming of the course is great. This is a family business, so it is managed with care. The air conditioned building has restrooms, the rental counter, souvenirs and ice cream!! This is always an idea for slightly older kids on summmer evenings.
One caveat : there is no shade (really, none). My first visit there with an infant in a stroller had me fearing heatstroke. We have visited several times and find this is a nice option.

McCray's Farm and Creamery, South Hadley, MA

McCray's has improved it's petting zoo since my last visit, but still straddles the fence between ramshackle charm and dilapidated mess. My previous visit there was so unpleasant that it kept me away for several years. The animals had been groomed fairly recently and looked somewhat healthier than last time, but the smell was still overpowering (in relation to other farms and petting zoos). The beginning of the petting zoo path is well maintained, but the further you go, the grosser it becomes. The duck pond was adorned with lots of trash, as well as the adorable baby duck pictured above. They've removed the dirty but fun "castle" that used to be there. The pig was nowhere to be seen, but his sty was still the stinkiest pen. One of the best parts of the outdoor area is an old tractor planted in the ground for kids to ride. My boys spent more time on that tractor than anywhere else. So, McCray's is a mixed bag.

The store/restaurant is very clean and very cute, with murals painted all around. Cones of animal feed are 3/$1. Most of the patrons that we saw had brought their own bags of stale bread or vegetables, which the animals were eager to gobble.

The restrooms can be accessed from outside and were clean.

The real reason to visit McCray's is for the hayrides in the fall. They have a super scary one for adults, which I have been on and it really was scary! (Well, disclaimer: I can't even tolerate previews for horror movies). They have a more tame version for kids. The lines are often long but these are great rides. Next time I visit here, it'll be for that reason. In a couple years probably, when my kids are ready.

McCray's website.

3 County Fair, Northampton, MA

It will cost you a pretty penny, but you'll have an awesome time, too. Last year we paid for bracelets for the kids and it was so worth it. On the inflatable slide alone, which my middle son slid down about 700 times, we made our money back. There were tons of rides that both kids were tall enough to go on.

The food was good, the soda was cold. One child watched a puppet show with Grandma while I followed the other around. There were plenty of animals to look at, and in a special barn a children's paradise - from a toy tractor driving area, corn kernel sandbox, giant pig and horse, and goats, etc., a lasso game, a magnet board.... it was a really well done feature.

We found side street parking quite close - we were lucky that day. I believe you'll have to pay to park, but if you are willing to walk a bit, you can park free.

The dates for 2009 are August 28-30.

Three County Fair

Westview Farms and Creamery, Monson, MA

This was a nice spot to take the kids for a morning. It had a few things going for it and the biggest one for me was the incredible view. For my children, it was the goats. There were so many goats and kids in the enclosure, of all different colorations, all ages. They were some of the healthiest, best smelling, and beautiful goats I have ever seen. For only 25 cents each I bought my older boys wafer cones filled with animal feed (the goats can eat the cone, too).

We used the restroom inside the restaurant (totally clean, totally well stocked), but there was a porta potty provided outside, with - get this- a porta sink, which I have only really seen before at Phish shows. It's an awesome convenience, too bad there isn't a porta sink for every porta potty. The large lawn held picnic tables and various benches lined the sides of the lawn. The playground was clean, though as you can see from the photos, not the modern type.

We packed a lunch, but observed the protocol of "no picnic baskets" on the lawn. We just ate in the car. I was pretty disappointed about that, to be honest. But as the sign indicates, it is a full service restaurant and they do want to make money from their business and grounds.

Next time we'll sample the homemade ice cream, and eat it at the picnic tables. On a visit that does not happen, as I pointed out repeatedly to my eldest, before 11 AM. (Ice cream for breakfast? Check out Flayvors of Cook Farm, who hold ice cream breakfasts monthly in the summer).

During conversation with a couple who live nearby, I found out that the rolling fields in the background of the photos above are pumpkin patches. The large parking area and copious seating are all filled to capacity, I'm told, during the autumn season. I look forward to it.

Westview Farms

Quaboag Hills Region

Austin Brothers Valley Farm, Belchertown, MA

Austin Farm is a working farm, so it is not open to the public on a regular basis. However, this fall they plan to have a pumpkin patch, so you can get your pumpkin right here in Belchertown, if that happens to be where you live! They also had an Easter Egg Hunt this year - you can see pictures on the farm blog.

The Farm has been in the Austin Family for generations, and they are truly a farming family. On the day of my visit I watched Mama Farmer corral and feed the ponies, pushing Baby Farmer in her stroller; with a lead or a bucket in her other hand. Girl Farmer explained to my sons that her chore was to clean the fresh eggs and put them in containers. Girl and my boys happily romped all over the mulch pile, scenic road, playground equipment, chicken coops, and open fields.

All of the animals here were well cared for. A working farm is not particularly scenic up close, but having visited a few, it is clear to see when the land is loved. This land is loved.

Austin Farm has a shop that is open year round where you can purchase grass fed meats, including beef and pork. You can also find their booth at the Belchertown Farmer's Market (Thursdays from 2PM-7PM on the Belchertown Common).

Austin Brothers Valley Farm

Cold Springs Orchard, Belchertown, MA

The views are pastoral and relaxing, the apples are crisp and fresh, the prices are reasonable. Pick your own or buy them at the orchard store. I like to purchase the large bags of seconds in the autumn for pies and crisps. Squash is also available in autumn - gourds, pumpkins and other eating squashes.

The store is open seasonally.

Further down Sabin St. you might see sheep, llamas, and cows. In the evening hours look for bobcats and coyotes.

Cold Spring Orchard

Randall's Farm, Ludlow MA

This market is a grocery, a greenhouse, and ice cream stop (Elsie's Creamery). In the greenhouse section kids can watch koi in a pond as well as a friendly frog who likes to hang out there.

If you are shopping the nursery, you may use a little red wagon to drag around either purchases or your kids.
Randall's is best right around Halloween. Not only can you get a pumpkin of every shape,size and color, there are numerous other attractions. A large corn maze (a bit expensive), a smaller hay bale maze (free), wagon rides, and lots of other kid activities including animals to pet. Inside you can get a great cup of coffee, delicious baked goods, or if you are in the mood to buy a lunch, an awesome sandwich.

We have always been impressed with the quality of the plants, the food, and the displays in the greenhouse. It is clear that the management and staff here care about the jobs they do.

There is plenty of parking here, except during the very busiest weekend of pumpkin season, where overflow parking is relegated to fields in the back.
There is one, clean and spacious, restroom.

Randall's Farm

Garlic Festival, Orange MA

Fall in New England is a particularly wonderful time. Orange is a hilly and wooded town north of the Quabbin. This festival offers music on a large stage with seating on a hill, a smaller stage near the food area, vendors with wares from honey to hula hoops, foods (which do not come cheap, and lines can be long), and other entertainments. There is plenty of free space for children to run. The festival ground is a field which gets mowed for the event, so the "grass" is a prickly and uneven specimen.

It will cost you more than a few bucks to get in, and surely you'll purchase food, drink or garlic while you are there. Not free.

Parking is free and out on a field identical to the fairground. Watch yourself if muddy.

Restrooms are porta potties. Couldn't tell you how they were as I do not go in those.



Garlic Festival

Medieval Faire, Putney, VT

A grammar school in Putney has an anuual fundraiser with a medieval theme. "Rides," including ziplines, a big swing, a haunted house, maze, climbing wall, pony rides - cost you a couple of tickets. Free activities, such as play equipment, a sandbox, storytelling, and music, also abounded. Many of the attendees, of all ages, were dressed in period garb, which enhanced the atmosphere, as did the dozens of handmade decorations. If you have to spend money, this is a nice way to spend it - at a fundraiser for a beautiful school in a nice community.
The autumn drive was lovely with foliage, the sun was warm. Our kids played on the playground took some "rides." We ate some food from home but also made purchases. A wide variety of really delicious items were for sale.
I confess I don't remember the restrooms. They did exist, though. I DO remember nursing my newborn (about a month old), in the shade of a cherry tree, on the grass, on a hill overlooking a scene filled with families. A group of teens clowned around at the picnic table behind me. The sun and sky made me grateful. The band was playing just in front of me. It's a truly lovely memory and I can't wait to return.
Parking was copious, in a large field across the road from the event. I can't recall whether it was free or not! As I said, I had a newborn.



Grammar School



Town of Putney